A user-friendly carbon footprint calculator for single malt Scotch whisky production with a simulated case study

Why was the work done: The Scotch whisky industry is committed to cutting carbon emissions to net zero by 2040. A consistent and accurate measurement of carbon emissions across the industry would enable distillers and their stakeholders to make informed decisions on sustainability. Accordingly, this work presents a user friendly carbon footprint calculator. How was the work done: Focusing on single malt Scotch whisky, the study defined the scope of the calculator and applied UK government carbon accounting methods. A web-based calculator was developed (https://www.ai4whisky.com) and evaluated using data from a simulated distillery producing 3,000 litres of pure alcohol (LPA) in a batch process. What are the main findings: The calculator considers the distillery, maturation warehouse and bottling hall, accounting for raw materials and their transportation, energy consumption, product transportation and waste disposal within each facility. The case study calculated a carbon footprint of 2.83 kg CO₂e per 70 cL bottle of whisky. Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions accounted for respectively, 15, 8, and 77% of the total. The calculator also visualised emissions by facility and highlighted key contributors to the overall footprint. Why is the work important: The work addresses the challenges of achieving a consistent and accurate carbon footprint for whisky products. The calculator can be adopted by distillers, especially those without access to bespoke carbon accounting tools, or with limited data on the specific footprint of their supply chain. Furthermore, it can pave the way for a global standard method for carbon accounting in the Scotch whisky industry and for other distilled spirits.